Filing device



19420 M. o. GOLDSMITH 2,270,045

FILING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1959 if invent-07 .2 l .5 .r W" I PatentedJan. 13, 1942 UNITED srras i AET OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a filing device and more particularly to adevice in which a group of loose leaf papers or sheets are held togetherin a spindle file. Spindle files of thisgeneral type are old in the artand have long been used by merchants in business for filing bills andother types of written information which it is desired to have availablefor use readily.

The present invention relates to this type of spindle file particularlyfor use as a prescription file holder for drug stores. In use of filesfor this purpose the prescription may be punched if necessary to provideperforations to fit the spindles and as each prescription comes in to befilled it is addedto the spindle in such a way that all theprescriptions are held together so that they can easily be removed fromthe file. When it is desired to search the file for a particularprescription, this may readily be done by raising the sheets on thespindle and turning them back on the spindle wires until the desiredprescription appears at the top of the group on the file. If necessarythe spindles may be opened and the prescription removed or theprescription may be left in the files and kept in view while thepharmacist is filling the prescription.

The present invention finds its general advantage over the devices ofthe prior art in the con venience with which the file may be used, itseconomical construction and its durability. The removable portions ofthe file of the present invention are composed principally of only twoelements which are formed from plain fiat stock merely by dies andpresses. In this way the device may be' cheaply and yet efficiently anddurably constructed. In addition to this the file has special meanswhereby it may be opened or closed readily without touching the filesheets.

Other features of the present invention will be more readily understoodfrom a consideration of the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows the file in its closed position in perspective.

Figure 2 shows the same file in its open position in perspective, and,

Figure 3 shows a detail of an element that is used in connection withthe file.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the file comprises a plate I which maybe of metal or other suitable material. If of metal, only thin stock isrequired. Preferably the metal plate has pressed outwardly from thebody, angle elements 2 and 3 forming channels at both sides of theplate. In these channels rides the sliding plate 4 upon which aremounted the spindles 5 and B spaced apart the distance that the holes orperforations have in the file sheets. This plate 4 has an upturned andplate 1 with two sidewise extending flanges 8 and 9 riding over thechannels 2 and 3 and extending outwardly to the edge of the plate I. Atthe center of the plate I there is formed a tongue element III pressedoutwardly from the bottom of the plate. This tongue element is strainedor pressed in such a manner as to become springy and has near its freeend a bossed section II to which the bossed spot I2 in the plate 4conforms when the spindles are in a closed position. One or more stopelements I3 and 14 are also pressed upward from the base plate in such aposition as to limit the motion of the sliding plate 4. The spindles 5and 6 are supported in the sliding plate 4 in any suitable manner, infact they may be welded or riveted into the plate 4 or soldered and theymay also be made of a continuous wire or rod with the cross piecesoldered or welded to the plate 4. When the file is in its closedposition the slide 4 is pushed to the right from the position indicatedin Figure 2, and the top ends of the spindles 5 and 6 close with thecurved portions I5 and I5 of the spindles I1 and I8 respectively.

The bottom end of the plate I has a curved or upwardly extending flange30 offering a grip to permit the plate to be readily handled,particularly when it is to be removed from a shelf or box.

The bossed spot or depression I2 on the underneath side of the plate 4coincides with the boss I I on the tongue I!) and exerts a sumcientspring pressure upwards to retain the spindles on the moving elements inlocked engagement with the spindles on the stationary piece.

The card sheets may be placed on the spindles 5 and 6 when the file isin its open position, as in Figure 2, and when the file is in its closedposition these sheets may be turned back over the curved portions of thespindles. In pushing the file back into its closed position from theopen position as shown in Figure 2, the operator may press upon theprojecting ends 8 and 9 with the thumbs gasping the spindles I1 and I8with the hand. This makes it comparatively easy for the user to closethe file without touching the sheets themselves. The end plate I of theslide 4 is bent upwards substantially at right angles with the slide 4and the end elements 8 and 9 as will be seen in the figures are cut awaysufficiently to allow these elements to ride over the channels 2 and 3.In this manner also the slide 4 upon which the spindles 5 and 6 rest maybe supported on the channels 2 and 3 by means of the pieces 8 and 9rather than upon the base I. In this manner the spring tongue I!) neednot be flattened into the base I when the plate 4 passes over it sinceby supporting the inner end of the plate 4 on the channels 2 and 3, theplate 4 will be given suflicient tolerance so as to keep it clear of thebase plate.

In Figure 3 is shown a bar or plate 20 with a flange 2| extending atright angles from the end. This bar is provided with two perforations 22and 23 conforming in position to the spacing between the spindles. Oneend of each of the perforations 22 and 23 is circular in shape asindicated by the numeral 24 while the other end of the perforationtapers as indicated at 25. This plate is to be used for keeping down thepaper sheets on the spindle and for this purpose when used, the plate isplaced on the spindles 5 and 6 by engaging these spindles in thecircular portions of the perforations. The plate is then movedtransversely until the tapered portions of the perforations grip thespindles which thereby hold the plate firmly in place and keep thepapers down.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A filing device comprising a base plate, a second smaller platecovering a portion of said base plate, said base plate having anglebrackets pressed outward therefrom to provide slides for said smallerplate, a plurality of stops pressed from said base plate to limit themotion of said smaller plate in one direction in the channels formed bysaid angle brackets and a tongue pressed upwards from said base plateand having means engaging corresponding means in said smaller plate forlimiting the motion of said smaller plate in the slides in the otherdirection.

2. A filing device comprising a base plate, a second plate having anarrower Width than said base plate, a pair of channels formed in saidbase plate for providing a slideway for said narrower plate, a pluralityof stops positioned in said base plate to limit the motion of saidnarrower plate in the slides in one direction and a tongue pressedoutward on said base plate to limit the motion of the narrower plate inthe other direction.

MAURICE O. GOLDSMITH.

